World | Pakistan
Karachi learns to live with power shortages
KESC estimates say that air conditioners and fans alone consume around 700 to 800 megawatts during the summer months, while ice factories and cold storages also add to the strain.
- By Mujahid Ali, Correspondent
- Published: 00:35 April 26, 2008
- The bleak power scenario during the summer months in Karachi leaves small businesses with no go but to fall back on power generators. The picture is for illustrative purposes only.
- Image Credit: GN archive
Karachi: The high-pitched whine of electricity generators reverberates through the narrow, bustling lanes of Bhori Bazaar, one of the oldest shopping arcades in the downtown Saddar area of Karachi.
Shoppers and traders have to literally scream at the top of their lungs to be heard above the din.
"It has come to a stage where we cannot run our businesses without these generators," says Abdul Gafar, who runs a small children's wear shop. "Our area remains without power for hours at a stretch both during the day and at night."
Although it is still weeks before the summer begins to sizzle, most Karachi neighbourhoods have begun experiencing the yearly cycle of power outages. The disruptions range from two to four hours and are expected to stretch from anywhere between eight to 12 hours in the sweltering months of June and July.
"The duration of power failures depends on the load factor, which soars during peak summer. The KESC (Karachi Electric Supply Corporation) at present does not have the capacity to meet this huge demand," said an official of the KESC, which was privatised in December 2005.
"Karachi will have to face massive electricity shortages in the coming months. Unfortunately, we are unable to do much," he said requesting anonymity.
In recent years, there have been a series of riots over power disruptions in Karachi. Earlier this month, protesters attacked the offices of a state-run power utility in Multan in one of the most violent protests against unscheduled power outages in the country. The KESC is keeping its fingers crossed. "We are expecting a very tough summer," the official said.
"There is already a supply shortfall of nearly 500 megawatts and this is likely to double in the coming weeks," he said.
In 2007, the peak electricity demand was around 2,500 to 2,700 megawatts daily. Authorities were expecting demand to rise eight to 10 per cent, he added.
Unfortunately, no new power generating units have been installed in the city since the mid-1990s. Work is in progress on a couple of projects, including a 560 megawatts power generation plant worth $570 million (Dh2,094 million) being built in collaboration with a Chinese firm and a 220 megawatts project, but both would need at least two to three years to be commissioned.
Residents of the city find the going tough like never before. "Petrol prices are going up. For middle and lower middle class people, it is no longer viable even to run small generators," said Shuja Khan, who works at a private company.
Industrial, commercial and business sectors, are just as badly hit.
All major industries and businesses are now opting for captive power generators because of the KESC's whimsical ways.
Private generators, however, increase the cost of production and business. The small entrepreneurs and businesses are hit the hardest.
Hit hard
"I am unable to meet my deadlines with the clients because of the power failures," said Amanullah, who repairs and sells computers.
The sad part is that there has been no concerted effort to conserve energy on the part of the government, barring a few advertisements in the newspapers.
Last year, the government's efforts to enforce an early closure of shops met with stiff resistance from the business community.
KESC estimates say that air conditioners and fans alone consume around 700 to 800 megawatts during the summer months, while ice factories and cold storages also add to the strain.
Hundreds of megawatts are consumed by shops and commercial centres, which remain open till well past midnight. An average billboard consumes 20 megawatts a day, which is sufficient to light up 100 villages.
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